Aggies defeat Arkansas, but Fisher isn't happy with the effort

 In previous Texas A&M football seasons some coaches maintained that any win was a good win. Struggling with Army was justified. Edging Texas State on a Thursday night was applauded. Surviving Louisiana-Monroe was celebrated. Things ain’t gonna be the way they used to be.

Jimbo Fisher made it quite clear he wasn’t pleased with Texas A&M’s 24-17 Southeastern Conference victory over hapless Arkansas on Saturday at AT&T Stadium. Up 17-0, A&M (3-2) had a chance for a blow out. Instead, the Aggies nearly blew it.

“I didn’t think we played real well,” Fisher said in a postgame press conference. “I think we played in spurts. I thought we came out and started well. Had some great things in the beginning. Lost control of the game. Let guys hang in the game. Up three scores. Let them back in the game.”

Fisher might have been mad after the game, but he was livid during it, particularly late in the third quarter when A&M was holding a precarious 17-10 lead. At that point, punter Braden Mann pinned Arkansas back on its 2-yard line. Upfield, linebacker Tyrel Dodson was involved in a skirmish with an Arkansas player. That’s when Fisher went “old school coach.” He yanked Dodson’s face mask while chastising him for risking a possible penalty or ejection.

“They’re getting in an argument and a fight,” Fisher said. “I don’t need that guy out there pushing and shoving, getting in a fight in the game. 
 

“Lose one of our best players on defense and our team leader… that’s great.  Learn to put your pride away and go on the sideline. There ain’t no sense to go out there and push and shove and do dumb things out there when you’re locked in on the game.”

Twenty or thirty years ago that incident might not have raise an eyebrow. Coaches often yanked face masks or slapped helmets to make a point. Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler or Frank Kush would’ve dismissed Fisher’s display as soft.

But today’s world is different. Now, a hard collision almost always draws a targeting penalty. Now, players transfer if they’re not playing enough. Some coaches kiss players. Fisher’s tirade will draw indignation from media types. Some will demand he be reprimanded — maybe even fired. Rivals will use it as ammunition in recruiting. They’ll say, “Hey, mom. Do you really want you son to play for a guy that will treat him like that?”

Those critics likely will be much more offended than Dodson, who actually tweeted that Fisher did the right thing by grabbing his face mask. That’s where the discussion should end, but it won’t. Fisher likely be asked about it repeatedly at his Monday press conference.  Apologies will be demanded. A statement probably will be released. And then it will all go away — especially if A&M defeats Kentucky next week.

But that gets back to Fisher’s original point. The Aggies can’t expect to beat Kentucky — or maybe any other opponent on the remaining schedule — if they don’t play better, harder and smarter than they did against Arkansas.

The Aggies opened with Jashaun Corbin’s 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. They followed with a methodical march for Trayveon’s William’s 1-yard touchdown run and a 14-0 lead. They followed that up with an impressive defensive stand to force a punt. Two plays later, quarterback Kellen Mond threw an interception. Just like that, the Aggies offense went stagnant.

Rey Romo, TexAgs

Despite the offensive struggles, the defense controlled the trenches, holding the Hogs to just 55 rushing yards.

A&M managed just a field goal on its next eight series. A bad pass thwarted a drive. There was another interception. Penalties, a sack, two missed field goals ended series. Mond had his least productive outing of his sophomore season. He completed just 17 of 26 passes for 201 yards and two interceptions. He took three sacks and wasn’t much of a factor in the running game.

“We knew we could drive on them and we had a lot of success (early),” Mond said. “But it takes that one small penalty or interception that I threw to kind of turn the game around. That’s something I need to clean up.”

Still, the Aggies maintained a 17-10 lead going into the fourth quarter because Arkansas’ offense was largely held in check. But Fisher wasn’t satisfied with the defense, either.

“They had given up a drive when we’re up 17-0 … when we’re up three scores,” he said. “And you put them right back in the game right before the half to get 17-7. I mean, they played well up front and gave up 71 yards (in the first half). but why give up that drive and let them get back within two scores?”

A&M finally seemed to clinch the win on Trayveon Williams’ second touchdown run that produced a 24-10 lead with just over five minutes remaining. Arkansas answered with a quick drive that ended in a 29 yard TD pass to WR Mike Woods.

Eventually, the Razorbacks got another chance to forge a tie. Finally, safety Donovan Wilson snatched an interception with just over a minute left to seal the win. That did little to change Fisher’s mood. He was angry A&M wasn’t intense. He was angry the Aggies had no killer instinct. He was angry they couldn’t secure the victory by halftime. He was angry they were undisciplined at times.

“Probably played our worst football game of the year by far and need to get things fixed,” he said. “Had decent intensity. But our intelligence level, how to play and how to expect to win and play from ahead and do things that champions do and good football teams do … We’ve got to get better.”

That's because, to Fisher, not every win is a good win.